US no to Kashmir mediation

On the eve of its key strategic dialogue with Pakistan, the Obama administration rejected efforts by that country to have the US mediate in resolving bilateral problems with India like Kashmir and water.

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a Pakistani TV that it would be “sensible” for Pakistan to look to the existing bilateral mechanism to resolve any of the issues with India.

Echoing Clinton’s sentiments, another top US official also shot down Pakistan’s plea to the Obama administration to help it resume peace talks with India and mediate on key disputes with New Delhi on issues including Kashmir.

“It is for India and Pakistan to resolve all their disputes bilaterally and the Obama Administration does not sees a role for itself in it unless both the countries want it,” Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said at a joint press conference with the Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir here.

Responding to questions from the Pakistani media on this issue, Holbrooke, however, said that the US encourages both India and Pakistan to talk to each other on all the issues.